3 arrested in Hong Kong, as a high-rise fire leaves at least 44 dead and 279 reported missing

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By CHAN HO-HIM and KEN MORITSUGU
Updated 6:20 PM CST, November 26, 2025
Leer en español

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades burned through the night, leaving at least 44 people dead and 279 reported missing with rescuers still pulling residents from blazing high-rise apartment buildings into the morning.

Police had arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with fire which began Wednesday afternoon in a housing complex in Tai Po district, a suburb in the New Territories. By Thursday morning local time, the fire was yet to be put out and rescues continued.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated as the fire spread across seven of the eight towers in the Wang Fuk Court complex, as bright flames and smoke shot out of windows.

Forty of the 44 fatalities were declared dead at the scene, officials said. At least 62 others were injured, many suffering from burn and inhalation injuries.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-highrise-fire-tai-po-cf40065101b2b6f8ac7bc43d9f228022

[LisaM]

1. This is one of the problems with urban density.

I know a lot of people are rah rah about building up and cramming people into skyscrapers, but this is horrendous. We live in a small apartment on the fourth floor and scenarios like this go through my mind a lot.

[C Moon]

3. I used to record a podcast where I told newspaper stories...followed people's lives until the trajedy.

One story was in the late 40's/early 50's.
It was about a horrendous fire that burned an apartment complex to the ground (I guess a smoker had stepped outside, and dropped the butt in some trash, tried to put it out with a garden hose, but failed and took off).

The lady I followed in my story, died in the fire. The problem was that it wasn't up to safety standards, and the reason was because during WWII, there was a huge drop in people needing apartments and homes (so many were off fighting).

But when the war ended, and the troops came home, there was a very sudden need for housing. So many cities over-looked the safety laws and let property owners turn buildings into apartments without much oversight. In fact, that place had one toilet for each floor, and of course, wasn't set up for what would happen if it burned down.

I didn't say this to scare you, but rather that you are better off than that.

After that fire, the mayor of the town began having more inspections and fixes.

[LisaM]

8. I get that we are a lot safer.

I just wish there wasn't such a push towards density. It's not a great way to live but in Seattle our affordable choices are dwindling. I keep paying more for smaller spaces. We do have a lot of fire alarms - meaning out sensors are good - but trudging up to the fourth floor in the middle of the night is not fun. At least we're alive, I guess, but it's still difficult not to worry.

[C Moon]

9. Oh that is what u said. Sorry.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

7. America has all kinds of fire regulations

[wcmagumba]

2. This is so terrible, hard to get out when packed together that way...

I'm fortunate enough to live in a one floor six Plex. No upstairs, no downstairs...only a front door but a big window in the back bedroom and a big window in the living room...of course I'm old and slow now so there's that...

[Princess Turandot]

4. These buildings don't appear to connect, unless its on the ground level..

Could the flames have jumped via the windows? Hopefully this link will take you to the area in GMaps with the 3D effect on.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Lf7TH99SRuwW5JQw8

Awful.

[wcmagumba]

5. Apparently, the buildings had bamboo scaffolding around most of them for remodeling...

That's where they think the fires started and then spread to the interiors and from building to building, but I did read where some arrests have been made so maybe arson...https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/26/fire-hong-kong-high-rise-dead-00670540

[C Moon]

6. At the end of the article it says, "The three men arrested..."

"The three men arrested, aged 52 to 68, are the directors and an engineering consultant of the firm."

[C Moon]

10. I saw a video of the fire and it looks like they are covered in rice paper

It was peeling off and falling. Weird.

[electric_blue68]

11. Just horrific! Made me think of the Grenfeld fire in England.

Never lived above 6 floors. Don't think I'd want to be higher.

[winstars]

12. Similar to Greenfeld Fire.

At Greenfeld, cladding on the outside of the building caught fire and the wind drove it up the building and into flats.

In Hong Kong (apparently) the bamboo scaffolding caught fire... and traveled up the outside of the building(s) and caught the insides on fire...

I am no expert but, Maybe do not have flammable materials attached to the outside of the buildings in the future?